Christie Renews Call to Demand Cuba Return Convicted Killer

Christie Renews Call to Demand Cuba Return Convicted Killer
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is again calling on the federal
government to have Cuba return a woman convicted in the murder of a
state trooper.
March 25, 2017, at 5:45 p.m.

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has again called on
the federal government to have Cuba return a woman convicted in the
murder of a state trooper.

Christie discussed Joanne Chesimard during an interview Friday with Fox
News Channel’s Tucker Carlson. She is the state’s most wanted fugitive,
with a $2 million bounty for information leading to her capture.

Saturday marked the 40th anniversary of Chesimard’s conviction in the
death of Trooper Werner Foerster. He was killed during a gunfight after
a traffic stop on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1973.

Chesimard was sentenced to life in prison but escaped in November 1979
and eventually traveled to Cuba. Fidel Castro granted her asylum and she
has been living under the name Assata Shakur.

“Foerster gave his life. And his family has lived for the last 40 years
with the knowledge that his murderer has been living with impunity in an
island protected by that government,” Christie said. “It’s outrageous.”

The Republican governor urged the Trump administration to make
Chesimard’s return to the United States part of any change in Cuba
policy. Christie had made a similar request to former President Barack
Obama after the United States and Cuba restored full diplomatic relations.

“This is something that Secretary of State (Rex) Tillerson and others in
the Trump administration should make a top priority, in any dealings
they have with Cuba,” Christie said.

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